Composting

The following materials are deposited in
areas designated by these signs:

Yard Waste Area:  Leaves, grass clippings, and other garden debris

Brush Only:  Tree limbs 6 inches diameter or less.

Logs:  Clean wood material greater than 6” in diameter

Clean Wood:  Pallets, NO painted, stained, treated lumber, pressed board or plywood.

Clean Concrete & Asphalt:  Clean material. Charged if rebar or metal per ton.

The Routine:

• The green 90-gallon organic cart is collected weekly on the same day as your regular refuse and recycling pick-up day.
• Garbage and organic carts must be placed curbside by 7:00 am
• Allow 4+ feet between the containers for the automated pick-up on the trucks.
• Material that may blow around in the wind should be placed in the compostable bags provided to you.
• Please make sure lids on both the organic and refuse carts are closed.

Contamination = garbage creation:

Inorganic trash and recycling placed in an organics cart can contaminate an entire load, sending that material instead to the landfill.  Be a responsible participant, if you are unsure whether an item is compostable, call (320) 234-5665 with questions.  When in doubt, throw it in the trash.  

Click to View Flyer

Commonly Asked Questions:

• I am remodeling my home this spring and was wondering if the old lumber and building materials can be put into my organic cart?

No. These materials are not considered organic. Any untreated, unpainted or unvarnished wood product is accepted at CreekSide Compost. Cement and asphalt products (bricks, landscape rock, etc.) is also accepted at no charge.

• Where does one drop off wind blown branches?

Branches are gladly accepted (no charge) at CreekSide Compost.

• Can everyday plastic bags (ex. Department and grocery store handle bags) be composted and put into my 90-gal. green cart?

Plastic bags are not biodegradable and cannot be composted. Approved bags that are supplied by the City of Hutchinson are “compostable” and break down in the composting process. The other option is use brown paper bags.

• Should I recycle or compost my paper products?

Paper is a very valuable resource as it is both recyclable and compostable. Clean paper products, such as unwanted mail, glossy and matte office paper and cardboard can be recycled into new paper products.  Please place clean paper items into the recycling cart, so they can be recycled into new paper products.

Food-soiled paper, however, cannot be recycled into new products. Once paper has been soiled, it loses much of its resale and reuse value. Luckily, paper is also compostable. Please place food-soiled paper, such as paper plates, cups, napkins, tissues and paper towels into your green organics cart. These food-soiled paper products will be turned into nutrient-rich compost.

For example, you could place the bottom half of a greasy, food-soiled pizza box in the green organics cart and place the clean, residue-free top half in the green with tan recycling cart. Or, you could place the entire pizza box in the green organics cart. However, you should not place the entire pizza box in the green with tan lid recycling cart, as it has some food-residue remaining on it.

The compostable bags are available to those who participate in the curbside organics program every four months.

• All types of organic materials can be placed in the compostable bags, especially if the material is smelly, drippy and might blow around in the wind.
• Compostable bags are different than regular garbage bags or plastic handle department store bags.
• The compost bags that are available to residents converts into carbon dioxide and water within a few weeks after disposal. These bags have a longer shelf life than the compost bags of the past, so they can withstand some moisture, heat and light, before they begin to break down.
• It is important for participants in the program to only use these special degradable bags and/or paper bags in the organic cart.
• Regular garbage bags act as a contaminant and must be screened out of the final compost soil product.
• If you have any questions regarding compostable bags, please call (320) 234-5665. Biodegradable compost bags are available at Hutchinson City Center or CreekSide Soils for $5 for two rolls but please pay attention to your water bill for bio-bag pick up dates.

Download Compost Bag Pickup PDF